Three men came to visit Abraham; the LORD and two angels. Abraham invited them to stay for a meal and he quickly had a servant kill a calf and told his wife, Sarah, to make a special meal for their guests. The LORD announced that Sarah was to have a son the same time the following year. Upon hearing this; Sarah laughed while she was preparing a meal for their three guests. The LORD asks Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” Sarah denied that she laughed because she was afraid.
Genesis 18:11-15 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. (12) Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? (13) And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? (14) Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. (15) Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
The three heavenly visitors were on their way to visit Sodom and Gomorrah to see first hand just how evil these cities had come. The LORD shared with Abraham, His intention to destroy both of these cities because of their iniquity.
Genesis 18:18-21 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? (19) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. (20) And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; (21) I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
Knowing that his nephew Lot lived in Sodom, Abraham starts to negotiate with the LORD by asking Him if He will destroy the good with the evil; “What if there are fifty righteous, will you destroy the city?” Knowing that there were not fifty righteous, Abraham keeps asking the same question, but lowering the number each time. He knew that he was persisting on a hopeless question; but risks God’s anger until he gets down to ten. “Will you destroy the city if there are ten righteous?” The LORD says, “For ten righteous men, I will not destroy the city.”
Genesis 18:23-32 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? (24) Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? (25) That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (26) And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. (27) And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: (28) Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. (29) And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake. (30) And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. (31) And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake. (32) And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
Abraham knew in his heart that there were probably not even ten righteous, in Sodom and Gomorrah; but he negotiated with the LORD on behalf of his nephew Lot.
Abraham had taken a very bold stand to negotiate with the LORD. We see in the New Testament that this is a Godly trait to be bold; as long as we are standing on the WORD of God and do it with respect. God wants us to come to Him and to ask with confidence, focus and clarity of mind.
James 1:6-8 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (7) For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. (8) A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
We must know the LORD’s will. This only comes from having a relationship with Him through study of the WORD, prayer, fasting and meditation.
James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Abraham was asking out of love for his nephew. He was interceding on behalf of his brother. This was not an act of selfishness, but of love. Abraham truly cared. Sometimes we put our children off for a while to see what their intentions are and how much do they want something. We test their genuineness, their persistence and their resourcefulness. God does the same with us as His children. Sometimes it is persistence that wins our favor.
Luke 18:2-8 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: (3) And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. (4) And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; (5) Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. (6) And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. (7) And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (8) I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
My friends, God has tried me sorely on health issues over the past ten years. The pain and suffering has pressed my endurance to the brink of breaking. Yet God is faithful and through stretching us, we grow. God has promised never to try us more than we can bear.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
God does try us more than we can bear, but He gives us the strength to bear it and we grow. He adds to our strength for the perfecting of our character and to build faith within us. We may not have the strength and faith to bear it going into the trial, but we will receive both to endure it. Therefore count it joy to suffer. God wants us to see with eternal vision beyond this short physical life
James 1:2-5 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
We can become the friend of God like Abraham. He was just a man who had the same struggles that we have today. Looking at this great patriarch in detail, we should receive confidence, strength and hope to be bold in the LORD.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
No comments:
Post a Comment